Alarm clock



E. H- MILLER.

ALARM CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED we. 11, I921.

Patented Jan, 3, 1922.

' mechanism anclthe alarm mechanism asso UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

EDWIN H. MILLER, 01 cnrcnco, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'ro NORRIS ALIs'rnR-BA LcoMrANi n CORPORATION or OHIO.

ALARM CLOCK.

Application filed August .11, 1921. Serial No. 491,340.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN II. MILLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at the cityof Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of.Illinois, have invented certain newxand useful Improvements in AlarmClocks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to alarm clocks which provide visual means by whichit can be known under all conditions, whether the mechanism is properlyset to give the alarm. In addition to. the time-keeping ciatedtherewith, standard alarm clocks are usually provided with a controldevice by which the alarm when wound and set for the desired time, by amovement of the shutoff le er external to the casing, may be locked atthe silent or unlocked by moving it to the alarm point.

But it may happen that through inadvertence the control device is notmoved to unlock the striking mechanism in the alarm position; and thatthe user cannot recall after the light is extinguished, whether he hasproperly moved the shut-oil lever to the alarm point.

It is the object of my invention to provide a luminous signal whichalways will be visible in the dark when the alarm mechanism is instriking position, but which will be invisible when the alarm mechanismis not in proper position to give an alarm.

The principles of my invention are illustrated in the drawings in whichFig. 1 shows a front elevation of an alarm clock embodying myimprovement. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same looked at from theleft and from above. Fig. 3 is a similar view with the front portion ofthe casing removed. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing an alternativeconstruction. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

, Further describing my invention with reference to thedrawings in whichlike characters of reference denote like parts throughout, 1 is theusual drawn metal cup or foundation piece within which the mechanism ofan ordinary alarm clock is mounted. 2 is the rear section of the outercasing which is secured to the foundation cup and which acts s a bellwhen struck by the hammer 3 which passes through the opening 4 tocontact with said bell. The dial plate 5 is supported by the flange 6 ofthe framework and is normally secured in place by the front section 8 ofthe outer casing which also has a flange 9 to engage the edge of theprotecting glass 10. A shut-off or looking slide 12 is placed inside thefoundation cup in which it is secured by means of a lug having a head 14and the body piece 15 which passes through the keyhole slot 16 and isupset to attach it to the slide. In order'that the slide may further beguiccd a second slot 16 is formed in the foundation cup 1, and a lever17 is attached to the said slide by means similar to that lastdescribed. Said lever is extended upwardly, however, and includes ascrew 18 which passes through the slot 19 in the outer casing. Saidslide is adapted to engage the hammer '3 and prevent it from soundingwhen the lever 18 is moved to the right, and to free it when moved tothe left, as indicated in Fig. 2.

The outer casing 8 ofthe clock has an annu- Patented Jan. 3, 1922.

lar flange 20 in which is placed a sight opening 21, and back of saidopening on the dial is provided a luminous spot or glower 22. Said spotis formed by the application, at the proper position with reference tosaid sight opening, of any self-luminous ma terial such as zinc sulfidecombined with suitable salts of radium, thus forming a. glow spot orglower which, unobstructed. will show in the dark through the saidwindow or opening.

Referring to Fig. 3; the shield piece 23 is mounted upon the shut-offlever 17 and held in place by the screw head 18 or by any suitablemeans. The shield piece has an overhung portion 2st in such positionwith reference to the alarm lever and the glow spot that when the alarmis locked by the slide 12 in the silent position, the overhung portion24 will close the sight opening 21 and conceal the glower, but when theshut-off lever is moved to the alarm position the said overhung portionwill be moved with it so that the sight opening will be unobstructed andthe glower 22 disclosed.

A slight modification of my device is shown in Fig. 4: in which themovable shield piece 23, attached to the shutoff lever 17 is providedwith an overhung portion 28 upon which the self-luminous compound 28 1splaced Th1s overhung portlon 1s 1n such posit on with reference to theshut-off lever and the sight opening that, when the alarm is locked in.the silent pos1t1on, the glow spot Wlll be with n the casing andinvisible; but when the shutofi lever is moved to the"alarm position theglow spot will register with the si ht opening and be visibletherethrough.

'In either case, however, the result is the same, that a completeilluminated visual indication is given whenever the alarm str1ker isadapted for operation; but. that, when no positive signal is given, thesame is in inoperative position.

. I have illustrated my invent1on by reference to a practical andoperative application thereof in connection with an alarm clockof'standard construction. But I am not limited to any particular form ofalarm clock construction as my invention'may be" used Whenever means isprov1ded for lock-' I mg or free ng. the alarm mechamsm byacorrespondingly alternatively movable device, to indicate apredetermined position thereof.

' I claim L 1. In an alarm clock; a casing having a sight opening, aglower operatively disposed relatively to said opening, a'movable devicefor'controlling' the alarm striking mechanism, and means associated withsaid movable device for causing said glower to be exhibited at saidsight opening to indi- 1 ,aoasae cate' a predetermined condition of thesaid striking mechanism..

2. In an alarm clock; a casing having a sight opening, a glower adaptedto be exhibited at said opening, a movable device including a shut-offlever for controlling the alarm striking mechanism, and a shield piecehaving a depending member and movable by said shut-off lever relativelyto said 4. In an alarm olock;a casing having a sight opening, a glowerfixed in the rear of and adapted to be exhibited at said opening, ashut-oil lever for controlling the alarm strikin mechanism, a shieldpiece on the shut-ofi lever, and a depending memher-0n said shield piecemovable relatively to said opening whereby saidopening may alternativelybe opened or closed by corresponding movements of the shut-off lever.

In Witness whereof I have. hereunto set my hand at Chicago, Illinois,this 9th day of August, 1921.

EDWIN MILLER.

